Forgive me for I have sinned… Up until May long weekend 2012, I had never been to Portland.
My husband and I took a road trip down the coast to beautiful Portland, Oregon for the May long weekend, enjoying a couple of stops along the way, but mostly just trying to get there for a grilled cheese sandwich served on a bus. And that’s what we got!
After our grilled cheese and tomato soup lunch, we made sure to leave room for ice cream at Salt & Straw. The line-up was a bit long, so we wandered along Alberta Street for a bit, popping into Bolt, a great local fabric shop (where I picked up a stack of gorgeous fat quarters for my next quilting project).
With flavours like “strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper” and “salted caramel” it was well worth the wait!
One of the things we enjoyed most about Portland was how easy it was to get around using their public transit system. Vancouver could certainly stand to learn a thing or two!
While my goal was coming home with an entire new wardrobe of tax-free clothing, Brad had a different plan in mind. His goal was to try every craft beer on offer in the great state of Portland. Mission: accomplished! (It helps when you can get a whole tasting tray of 10 samplers for $8 or a pint for about $4 — with NO tax!!)
Before making our way to the biggest outlet mall I’ve ever seen, we made a quick stop at the eclectic Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Company which sells gorgeous home furnishings and vintage-inspired Edison lightbulbs. I of course had to make a pitstop at the Ristretto Roasters coffee bar located just inside the lobby for a quick pick-me-up!
Portland’s Washington Park boasts a beautiful Japanese garden which we decided to visit in between our beer tasting and delicious gourmet meals. It was beautiful despite the lingering rain and a must-visit if you’re on your way to the City of Roses.
This is just a smattering of everything we saw and did in Portland. It’s a beautiful city and I highly recommend you visit, if you haven’t before. We’ll be back!
